Improvement in metal fences



J. BLWIOKERSHAM. Metal Fence.

No. 212,075. Patented'Feb. 4,1879.

' N. PETERS. PHOTO-LIYHOGRAPHER WASHINGTON. D. Cv

UNITED STATES PATENT EFT-GE.

JOHN 13. WIOKERSHAM, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

"IMPROVEMENT IN METAL FENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 212,075, dated February4, 1879 application filed June 15, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, J 013m B. WIGKERSHAM, of the city of Philadelphiaand State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Metal Fences,of which the following is a specification:

The object of this invention is to connect the various portions of ametal fence in a very strong and durable manner, and at the same timereduce the weight of the metal without injury to the stiffness anddurability of the fence.

In Letters Patent No. 6,685, reissued October 5, 1875, to me, there arecast-iron connecting-blocks having key-seats, into which there aresecured keys, wedges, or nails to fasten the parts together.

In my present invention the principal feature is a metal bar having oneor more channels or grooves, serving to receive keys, wedges, or nails,that serve to clamp such bars to the parts through which they pass insetting up the work.

By this improvement the channel or groove or grooves lessen the weightof the metal bars without injuring the stiffness of the same, and I amenabled to put the fence and other articles together so that all partsthereof are in proper position, and then the keys are tightened up tofirmly hold the parts in place. With plain fencing the iron used is in astrong and cheap form, and requires but little labor in preparing thesame for the market.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a section of the bar with a singlechannel. Fig. 2 is a section of the same with three channels.- Fig. 3 isa section of the channel-bar in a triangular form. Fig. at is a sectionof the post and rails horizontally representing the manner of keying thehooked ends of the bars. Fig. 5 represents the hook-ended bars withinthe mortise of the post, keyed together. Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 representthe manner in which the pickets are to be keyed to the grooved orchanneledbars; and Fig. 10 is a section of one of the picket ornaments.

The rails a are grooved or channeled, as at 2, and such grooves orchannels preferably extend the entire length of the bars or rails, so asto lessen the weight without injuring the stiffness; but thelongitudinal grooves or channels are to be at the places where the keysare to be introduced, and they may run in other directions thanlongitudinally if required.

The posts I) are to be mortised or provided with openings at the placeswhere the rails or bars a are to be introduced. These openings are of asize to admit the rails to slide into and through them freely. The keyor wedge c, inserted in the groove 2, secures the post and the railtogether when such key is tightened firmly into place.

The posts and rails may be of any desired size or shape.

Where the lengths of rail are to be united without the joint beingnoticeable, or to put the bars into line, the ends are made as similarhooks, d, and set together before the parts are slipped into the mortiseof the post, and these parts cannot separate endwise, in consequence ofthe hook-shaped ends, and a longitudinal key or wedge, c, secures theparts into the post.

If the joint between the bars is not at a post the parts are secured inthe same manner by an ornament or sleeve passed over the interhookingends, after which a key is to be driven in either longitudinally ortransversely to secure the parts and prevent motion.

In cases where the ends of the rails lap flatwise, the openings in theposts are wider, so that the rails may lie face to face, and be securedby keys driven into the grooves, as at c, Fig. 11.

In cases where pickets are connected with the railsas in the manufactureof ornamental fencing, window-guards, tree-boxes, and other articlestheclip-piece h is placed around the bar a, and the picket slipped throughthe openings provided for the same, and then the insertion of the key orwedge 0 holds the parts by binding or tightening the parts on eachother. i

The clip may either be cast metal, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, or wroughtmetal, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Fig. 15 is a cross'section of the clipshown in Figs. 8 and 9.

The ornaments l, at the upper ends of the pickets, are made withopenings through them. These are smaller at the upper ends, and the endsof the pickets are tapered, so that the ornament will slip on, butcannot drop down below the place where the parts of the metal cometogether, and by riveting up the end of the picket the ornament issecured.

The lower ends of the posts are provided with movable hurdle-feet m,(see Fig. 12,) that are firmly connected by bolts or keys, so as to beattached to any post. These feet may be removed when the post is to beused for a stone or other base.

It is obvious that the metal bars made with channels or grooves forkey-seats may be put to various uses in a variety of ,ways besides thosedescribed. I have shown in Fig. 13 some of the styles of iron-work towhich this improvement may be applied.

In some instances the bars will run at an angle to each other, and thegrooves in the rails may require to be at an inclination instead oflongitudinally, in order that the keys may properly confine the parts.

When it is required to wedge the fiat side of the bar, as indicated inFig. 14, the mortise in the metal post is provided with a notch, as at3, for the insertion of a key or nail, c.

I claim as my invention- 1. The rail a, having a longitudinal key-seatgroove, in combination with the key and post or upright through whichthe rail passes, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the longitudinally grooved or channeled railand the key, of the clip h, secured to the rail by the key 0,substantially as set forth.

3. A wrought-iron fence-post having mortises through the same for themetallic rails, and having a notch at one of the vertical sides of themortise, in combination with the rail and the key introduced into themortise and notch, respectively, substantially as set forth.

4. The method herein specified of attaching the picket ornaments,consisting in supporting such ornaments uponthe tapered ends of thepickets and riveting the top of the picket, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 11th day of June, A. D. 1878.

J. B. WIGKERSHAM.

Witnesses:

GEo. T. PINcKNEY, CHAS. H. SMITH.

